Michigan standout Danny Wolf a first-round pick in 2025 ESPN NBA mock draft
ESPN’s Jonathan Givony and Jeremy Woo released their latest 2025 NBA Mock Draft, and Michigan Wolverines basketball junior forward/center Danny Wolf made the cut as a first-round selection.
The two analysts placed Wolf as being taken by the Dallas Mavericks with the No. 21 overall choice. The 7-foot-0, 250-pound Yale transfer has impressed early this season, especially with the many different ways in which he impacts the game, including as a ball-handler.
“A versatile big man who can play inside and out would be an interesting addition to the Mavs’ roster,” Givony wrote. “Wolf has helped his standing tremendously since transferring from Yale to Michigan, being tasked with point guard responsibilities despite standing 7 feet. He ranks as one of college basketball’s best pick-and-roll players thanks to his unique ability to see over the top of defenses and deliver pinpoint passes with his impressive feel for the game.”
There’s only one seven-footer who checked in ahead of Wolf in the mock draft — Duke center Khaman Maluach (7-foot-2, 250 pounds) to the Detroit Pistons at No. 11. Wolf is the third-highest rated center, behind Maluach and Maryland’s Derik Queen at No. 16 to the Indiana Pacers.
In Michigan’s first 14 games, Wolf was the ball handler on 75 pick-and-roll possessions (including passes), generating 1.147 points per play, which ranked in the 90th percentile nationally. His ability to create opportunities for himself and teammates is unique for someone his height. Wolf’s 24.4-percent assist rate leads the Wolverines and is tops in the Big Ten among players over 6-foot-6.
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Wolf is Michigan’s third-leading scorer at 12.5 points per game, adding 10.2 rebounds and 3.9 assists per contest. He’s earned Kenpom MVP honors in five of the team’s 15 outings, including when he put up 21 points, 13 rebounds, 7 assists, 6 blocks and 2 steals in a stellar performance against USC Jan. 4. The Wolverines beat the Trojans, 85-74, in the third of their four-game win streak.
“Wolf also fills up the box score with rebounds, blocks and steals while scoring efficiently for what appears to be a very good Michigan team,” Givony continued. “Continuing to shoot and show off his unique style of play should translate to winning as well as better draft positioning in June.”
If Wolf did go in the opening round, he’d become the program’s 32nd first-round choice in history and the 12th since 2013. The current figure of 11 leads the Big Ten, as does U-M’s 16 overall draft choices in that same timeframe, ahead of second-place Michigan State (10). Michigan’s last first-round draft picks came in 2023, when Jett Howard went No. 11 to the Orlando Magic and Kobe Bufkin was chosen No. 15 by the Atlanta Hawks.
